Shoe.



T. F.HEALEY.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED IMYH. 1911.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

the shoe fits closely THOMAS F. HEALEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

assrenoa TO THOS. E. WILSON & ooqor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 18, 1917.

Application filed May 11, 1917. Serial No. 167,881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. HEALEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoes and has for its object the provision of means whereby the durability of the shoe is increased, a neat appearance is assured and the cost of manufacture thereof is reduced.

A further object of myinvention is the provision of a structure wherein scraps'or relatively small pieces of leather may be utilized to cover the shank of the sole without detracting from the appearance or durability of the finished product.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiments thereof, in which Figure l is a bottom plan view of a shoe embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in section showing the parts before completion;

Fig. at is a bottom plan View different form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing the parts before completion.

eferring to the drawing 5 indicates the insole to which the upper 6 is secured by nails or otherwise except at the shank where it is secured by stitching in the manner presently to be described. An outer sole 7 and heel 8 are fastened to the insole 5 by any of the usual means.

To secure necessary flexibility whereby and the feet are unrestrained it is customary in athletic shoes to provide a stiff outer sole only at the forward portion of the shoe and to cover the shank of the insole with a flap integral with one side of the upper which is drawn across and stitched through the insole at either side thereof. In the form of construction the stitches which hold the upper to the shank of the insole are exposed to the hardest wear and as soon as they are cut the upper separates from the insole ruining the shoe.

of a slightly Moreover, the provision of a flap on one side of the upper wide enough to cover the shank of the insole makes it impossible to cut the uppers economically.

My invention is directed to'overcome these disadvantages by rendering the stitching less prominent and, therefore, less easily in.- jure-d and by permitting scraps of leather or small flaps on both sides of the upper to be employed in covering the shank of the insole.

In carryingout my invention I cut the insole 5 to provide pairs of lips 9 on the under side and adjacentthe edgethereof. Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I secure the upper 6, the lining 10 and one edge of a flap 11, which may be cut from scrap leather, to each pair of lips 9 by stitches 12 as indicated in Fig. 3. The free edges of the flaps 11 are then drawn over as indicated in Fig. 2 and stitched at 13 through the center of the insole.

In this construction the stitches 12 holding the upper to the shank of the insole are protected by the flaps 11 so that they can not become Worn until the flaps have first-been worn through. The construction, moreover, permits the use of scrap leather covering the shank of the insole.

In the slightly different form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I cut the insole 5 to provide pairs of lips 9 to which the upper 6 and lining 10 are secured by stitches 12 as indicated in Fig. The upper 6 is provided with integral flaps 11 which are drawn over the shank of the insole and stitched at 13 through the center thereof. In this form of my invention the stitches which secure the upper to the insole while exposed, are not subjected to direct wear on the bottom of the shoe and consequently are not liable to cut. The shoe is, therefore, much more durable than shoes as heretofore constructed. Furthermore, the uppers having narrow flaps meeting at the center of the shank of the insole can be out much more economically than uppers With wide flaps hitherto used in constructing shoes of this character.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that I have perfected a shoe Which may not only be manufactured at a lower cost than has heretofore been possible but that I have materially lengthened the life of the shoe by protecting the stitches connecting theupper and insole from Wear. I am thus enabled to produce a shoe having a flexible shank which is serviceable and Which presents a neat and finished appearance.

It Will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the material advantages thereof, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

1 claim:

1. A shoe embodying an insole having lips on the under side at the shank thereof and flaps secured to said lips and having their free edges secured to said insole at substantially the center thereof.

2. A shoe embodying an insole having lips on the under side at the shank thereof, uppers secured to said lips, and flaps secured to said lips and having their free edges stitched to said insole at substantially the center thereof. y

3. A shoe embodying an insole having lips Copies of this patent may be obtained for five'cents each, by addressing the at substantially the center thereof.

5. A. shoe embodying an lnsole, cut adjacent the edges of the shank to provide pairs and a pair of flaps stitched to said pairs of lips, the free edges of said flaps being stitched to the insole at substantially the center thereof.

THOMAS F. HEALEY.

of lips on the under side thereof, an upper;

\Vitnesses 7M. 0. BELT, M. A. Kinnin.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

